Creative ideas to flow at Makers Forum
Date published: 22 May 2017
Townsville City Council, in partnership with the Townsville Business Development Centre, will present a Local but Global Makers Forum supporting this year’s Townsville Fashion Festival.
Growing on the partnerships formed during last year’s Townsville Fashion Festival and the Townsville Creative Industries Cluster, this year’s event will provide Townsville’s makers, thinkers, creators, tinkerers and entrepreneurs with a forum to hear and discuss how they can tap into this global movement.
The half-day forum to be held on Friday, May 26 at Tony Ireland Stadium will feature presenters from diverse industries addressing their story of success and opportunities.
A facilitated discussion will enable participants to share innovative ideas and projects to a collective group and a networking function will allow attendees to interact, explore, learn and build relationships.
The international keynote speaker is Kelley Roy, the founder and owner of ADX Portland and Portland Made. Ms Roy has become a globally recognised leader in the Maker Movement.
She co-authored Cartopia: Portland’s Food Cart Revolution in 2010, has a graduate degree in Urban Planning and an undergraduate degree in Geological Sciences.
Council’s Innovation and Business Advisory Group chair Cr Maurie Soars said the forum was a great opportunity for Townsville people in the creative industries to learn, network and collaborate with industry leaders.
“Council is keen to help nurture the Makers movement in Townsville and to help entrepreneurs to grow their ideas, and in turn, our economy,” Cr Soars said.
“The forum is a great way for like-minded people to share ideas and build on each other’s success and learn from each other.”
Other speakers are:
- Dr Dean Alle, JCU/iNQ’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence
- Dr Jonathan McBurnie & Linda Yeo: Umbrella Studio
- Rowena Burley CEO/Founder/Creative Director The Elegant Executive Curve
- Karissa Chase, Coordinator Renegade Markets
During her visit to Townsville, Ms Roy will spend time with residents and business groups and attend events such as the Townsville Slow Food movement dinner and Wearable Arts Townsville.
Her visit also comes off the back of the recent visit by Business Oregon to Townsville in March identifying business linkages and chef Chris Holen from Astoria Oregon who visited in November 2016 and is working with local Townsville chefs to promote local produce.
To book tickets visit www.townsvilletickets.com.au.
